Adenotome



April 2, 1935. c, R TbRz 1,996,261 '1.

ADENOTOME Filed June 17, 1935 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 2, 1935 UNITED STATES ADENOTOME I I I CharlesR, Storz, Indianapolis, Ind. I Application June 1' 7, 1933,Serial No. 676,408

6 Claims. (01. 128 -309) Thisinvention relates to an instrument for removal of adenoids, commonly known in the medical and surgical professions as an adenotome, and has reference more particularly to a hand- 5 operated instrument for ready clean removal of adenoid tissues which as is well known is superimposed'upon unyielding tissues which has no constant contour or angle in different individuals.

proved instrument for the removal of adenoids which shallbe so constructed as. to be flexible so that when pressed forward it shall conform to theangle presented in the individual patient and insure that a clean removal of adenoid tissues shall result in operation and eliminate faulty operation inherent in the rigid type of adenotome hitherto commonly used, which instrument, though capable of being manipulated after being put into position, to include maximum amount of tissue from one individual, but such adjustment is always limited by the spread'between the teeth of an open mouth and the fact that neither the in-. strument nor posterior wall will yield to pressure found by experience to be required in order that clean removal of adenoid tissues shall result, as evidenced by the frequency of re-growth after operation. I

Another object is to provide aflexible adenotome or instrument for removal of adenoids which shall be flexible so that when pressed forward shall conform to various angles in different individuals, which instrument shall be so constructed as to have a difference in tension between elements of the instrument, so that the entire adenoid from base to tip shall be removed completely. v

A further object is to provide an improved adenotome in which the blade of the instrument shall be prevented from becoming bowed at its cutting edge, in order that the adenoid will always be cut away cleanly.

Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument for removal of adenoids which shall 45 be so constructed as to be adapted to be sanitary while not excessively costly in manufacture or in maintenance, yet shall be strong, durable and economical in use. 50 With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in a novel instrument having a flexible cuttingblade and a flexible guiding means for the blade of novel construction; and further, in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly An object of the invention is to provide an im-' larged cr sect n Showing guided worki Part5 described and furtherdefined in the appended claims.-

- i Referring to the accompanying drawing,Figure 1 is a side view of the improved instrument; Fig.2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view 5 clearly showing the structural features of the operative parts of the instrument; Fig. 3 is an opposite side view of the effective portionof the instrument on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is an en- 10 of the instrument; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the improved cutting knife and controlling guides therefor. Similar reference characters on the different figures of the drawing indicate corresponding 5 elementsor features of constructionherein -re- ,ferred'to, in detail,

In construction the instrument comprises a compound shaftwhich maybe composed of a suitable number of parts, principally two main parts I and 2 having a thumbring 3 at oneend which has a swiveled connection with one of the main parts embodying a head member 4 on the ring mounted on a pintle 5 fixed on the end of one of the main parts. A screw 6 is inserted in 26 one of the main parts and has a head 1 bearing 7 against the opposite one of the main parts. The

suitably guided in connection therewith, as by means of two transverse bars l2 suitably attached to the outer side of the plate ll, each bar beed to the outer side of the plate H, each bar being longer than the width of the plate and hav- 40 ing guide members l3 on its opposite ends extending against the adjacent edges of the blade and the reinforcing plate, each member [3 having a guide lug i l on its end extending opposite to the blade ID at asuitable distance therefrom. The blade I ll is slidingly arranged on a guide plate 15 which is secured to the shaft part I by means of rivets Hi, the plate being of suitable width to extend across the shaft part and project' so as to be engaged by the guide lugs I4. Tl'ie blade l0 and the plate II have suitable openings I! to receive a control lug I 8 which is carried integrally by the shaft part 2 so as to extend into a suitable groove in the opposite part I. A fenestrum IQ of suitable curvature has a suitable base part which is secured to the shaft part by means of rivets 20, the fenestrum being composed of flexible material and having an opening 2| therein, a terminal portion beyond the opening having a guard 22 on the inner portion thereof to receive and guard the extremity of the cutter.

A basket 23 is provided and arranged on the handle member 24 and connected thereto by means" of a hinge pin 25 and is provided with a spring 26 tensioned appropriately to normally push the basket yieldingly toward the fenestrum so that it will co-operate therewith, the basket having side plates 21 suitably curved to contact with the curved portion of the fenestrum.

An elastic plate 28 is arranged onthe outer side of the frame part I and has a post 29 fixed thereto that extends through a suitable bearing in the part I and also into a longitudinal slot in the part 2 and has a button 30 on its end suitably eng'ag'ing the handle member 24 to hold it to the shaft, the plate having a 111g 3| yieldingly inserted into a'depression 32 provided for it in having a sharp cutting edge portion 35.

In practical use the instrument'is adjusted to the patient and manipulated by means of the rings provided on the shaft. The shaft is appropriately advanced so that the fenestrum yields adjustably to the contour wall of the individual and accordingly guides the cutter as it'is advanced and accordingly guided to conform to the wall contour, resulting in completely cutting away the adenoid tissue which is received in the co-operating basket.

What is claimed is:

1. An instrument for removal of adenoids having a flexible movable cutter, and a curved flexible guiding fenestrum along which said cutter' moves, the flexibilities of said cutter and fenestrum being so interrelated that projection of the cutter along said fenestrum increases the radius of curvature thereof.

2. An instrument for removal of adenoids having a flexible movable cutter, and a curved flexible guiding fenestrum along which said outter moves, the flexibility of said fenestrum being adapted to permit changes in curvature thereof by its being pressed against a wall from which an adenoid is to be removed.

3. In an adenotome, a curved wall provided with an opening adapted to receive adenoid tissue, said wall consisting for the major portion of its curvature of a single thickness of flexible material, a more flexible cutter blade projectable along the inner surface of said curved wall, and means for guiding said blade along said wall, said guiding means being non-resistant to the flexing of said wall in its plane of curvature.

4. In an adenotome, a curved wall provided with an opening adapted to receive adenoid tissue; said wall consisting for the major portion of its curvature of a single thickness of flexible material, a more flexible cutter blade projectable along the inner surface of said curved wall, and guiding members movable with said blade and embracing the side edges of said wall.

5. In an adenotome, an upwardly curved flexible frame adapted to be flexed rearwardly by forward pressure against a surface from which an adenoid is to be removed whereby to lower the center of contact with such surface, a flexible blade projectable in the plane of curvature of said frame across its opening and having a forward cutting edge, the flexing resistance of said blade being adapted to increase the radius of curvature of said frame whereby to raise the center of contact as said cutting edge travels upwardly therealong.

6. In an adenotome, a curved flexible frame having an opening adapted to receive adenoid tissue, a flexible blade projectable in the plane of said curvature across said opening and having a forward cutting edge, means reinforcing said blade over an area extending rearwardly from a point spaced from said cutting edge a distance less than the travel of said cutting edge, said J 

